You May Seize a General, but Not a Common Man's Will

answered by Analects of Confucius, Zi Han

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🎬 TODAY'S FILM — IT ASKS THIS

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

dir. Frank Capra · USA

Naive ideals are always mocked before the world's calculations. When everyone compromises in the name of reality, is crying out for the right to the very end a naive stubbornness, or the last ember that must not be let die?

THE QUESTION THE FILM ASKS

Before the words 'realistically speaking,' am I setting down even the will I ought to keep?

THE CLASSIC'S ANSWER · ORIGINAL

匹夫不可奪志也

三軍可奪帥也匹夫不可奪志也

📜 THE CLASSIC'S ANSWER

You may rob an army of its general, but you cannot rob a common man of his will.

💡 TL;DR

Confucius said you may seize the general of a great army, but not a single person's will.

📝The Classic Answers

Confucius said you may seize the general of a great army, but not a single person's will. Something in a person cannot be toppled by force. When the world urges compromise in the name of reality, one who cries out for the right while drawing mockery looks foolish. Yet that will is the very place no one can seize. Before selling my will to the words 'realistically,' I choose to remember it is my place that cannot be taken.

— ONGO · Curator

🌱Apply It Today

If you would fold a conviction today as 'realistically,' discern whether it is truly reality, or fear.

📖 Classic Source: Analects of Confucius, Zi Han. Ancient text in the public domain; rendered and interpreted independently by ONGO.
The film is honored as an equal questioner; its plot is rendered only as a universal dilemma. The classic source is an ancient text (Public Domain), and the reflection is 100% original ONGO content.